Cape Town in the early 1950s was a city in the midst of profound
transformation. Added to the social challenges of rapid urbanisation
were South Africa’s unique set of political tensions and conflicts. The
Nationalist Party, elected in 1948, was just beginning to implement its
policy of apartheid, which extended existing segregation with the
ultimate aim of a society based on total racial separation.

July 23, 2011 -- AFP -- For the first time in 25 years, the Tunisian Workers' Communist Party was able to hold a congress. Long banned, the party was legalised after the fall of President Ben Ali's authoritarian regime. (If video is blocked by AFP, go to YouTube.)

Statement by Bersih 2.0 organisers: Malaysians show great bravery, the struggle for clean and fair elections continues

July 9, 2011 -- Bersih 2.0 -- Bersih 2.0 is proud that in spite of all the
obstacles and hindrances that we were forced to face, Malaysians of all
walks of life overcame the oppressive acts of the police to come out
peacefully and in incredibly large numbers to show their love for their
country and for the principles of justice.

We are nonetheless horrified that several hundred people have been
detained, many of them without any justification whatsoever. We
particularly condemn the arrests of Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevesan and Maria
Chin Abdullah, two members of the Bersih 2.0 Steering Committee.

The only violence witnessed was perpetrated by the police, who
unleashed immense amounts of tear gas and chemical laced water on
innocent members of the public. Police also baton charged those who
gathered, injuring many and some very seriously.

Below are a number of statements and reports of solidarity actions around the world following the overthrow of the US-backed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak. They include a statement from organisations attending the New Anti-Capitalist Party congress in France, solidarity from the World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal, a statement by leaders of the Socialist Party USA and a report on trade union organised protests in South Korea. Check back for more.

* * *

Statement from
left organisations present at the New Anti-Capitalist Party congress

February 12,
2011 -- The overthrow of Ben Ali and Mubarak change the political situation not
only in the Maghreb but on the international scale.

On February 1, 2011, about 100 members of Thailand's mass democracy (Red Shirts) and student movements gathered outside the Egyptian embassy in Bangkok to send solidarity and support to the people of Egypt fighting to rid their country of the dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak. The protest was organised and supported by the Student Federation of Thailand (SFT) and member organisations, Thai Youth for Democracy, 24 June Group and other democratic networks.

Egyptians
and Koreans stand with one voice to denounce the Mubarak regime

January 31, 2011 -- Parti Sosialis Malaysia -- A last-minute mobilisation and continuous rain did not hinder about 70
protesters from assembling to call for Hosni Mubarak to step down as
well as showing support to the brave people of Egypt. The protest and memorandum handing ceremony was led by Mohamad Sabu, from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, PAS) central committee, and S. Arutchelvan, Socialist Party of Malaysia (Part Sosialis Malaysia, PSM) secretary general.

The group walked a short distance and was greeted by around 50 police
personnel in riot gear blocking the front entrance of the embassy. There
were no confrontation with the police, who also desperately tried to get
a representative from the embassy to take the memorandum. Like in
Egypt, the situation at the embassy was equally uncertain as no one
wanted to take the responsibility to receive the memorandum.

December 13, 2010 -- Rallies and marches have been held across Australia, on December 9-12 and with more scheduled, to protest against the persecution of the whistleblower website Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange.

December 11, 2010 -- Cancun, Mexico -- The
Plurinational State of Bolivia believes that the Cancun text
is a hollow and false victory that was imposed without
consensus, and its cost will be measured in human lives.
History will judge harshly.

High school students join a demonstration against attacks on pensions rights in Paris, October 14, 2010. AP Photo/Francois Mori from Boston.com.

By Chris Latham

October 24, 2010 -- Green Left Weekly -- Since October 12, France has been gripped by intensifying mass
opposition by workers and students to proposed counter reforms to the
country’s pensions system by the right-wing government of President
Nicolas Sarkozy.

Public opposition to the attack has been highlighted by three
national strikes each involving millions of people, two national student
strikes and a growing wave of indefinite strikes in a range of
industries — most notably the crippling shutdown of the oil industry.

Despite the size and intensity of the mobilisations, the Sarkozy
government remains defiant, insisting the changes to the pension system
are essential to France’s future. The government has threatened to
repress attempts to disrupt France’s economic life.

September 18, 2010 -- Up to 3000 members and supporters of the United Front for Democracy
against Dictatorship (UDD) – popularly known as the Red Shirts – rallied
peacefully outside Klongprem Remand Prison in Bangkok on September 17
to demand the release of the estmated 470 political prisoners held since
the military violently suppressed the mass Red Shirt protest camp in
Bangkok on May 19.

The protesters laid wreaths of red roses at the gates to the prison.
Similar protests were held outside several other prisons around the
country.

June 30, 2010 -- Three months' notice has been given to Punjab government to decide the fate of the 68,000 acres of agriculture land owned by Punjab government and cultivated by tenants for more than 100 years. The tenants have been demanding land ownership rights. Despite promises to do so by former prime ministers Benazhir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif, the land in question has not been allotted to the tenants.

June 17, 2010, Durban -- Daily News -- The sound of vuvuzelas cut through the air in Durban on June 16 -- but for one large group there was little to celebrate. Amid cries of phansi ngama-fat cats, phansi (down with fat cats, down) and a sea of banners proclaiming the government cared only for the rich, civil rights organisations took to the streets protesting against poor service delivery and the World Cup.[Photos below.]

Abahlali Base Mjondolo, KwaZulu-Natal Subsistence Fisher's Forum, Clairwood Social Forum and about 17 other organisations gathered for what they dubbed an "anti-Thiefa" protest march which started at Dinizulu Park and ended at City Hall yesterday.

Protest in solidarity with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and the people of Palestine, outside the US embassy, Jakarta, Indonesia, on June 7, 2010. Organised by the Working People's Association (Perhimpunan Rakyat Pekerja). Made with Slideshow Embed Tool.